Only recently has LED technology advanced to the point of offering brightness and reliability that meets or exceeds that of traditional bulbs and at an affordable price. Cruising mariners know that cabin lighting can consume a significant amount of electrical energy. Fortunately, cabin lighting is simple and relatively inexpensive to modify to achieve energy savings; simply change the bulb.

Advantages of LED lamps include:

Low power consumption (10% of comparable halogen and incandescent bulbs).

Low heat generation with high system efficiency.

High reliability and long operating life to minimize maintenance (our built in voltage regulator is key).

LED lamps can be configured to be as bright or brighter than halogen and incandescent lamps.

The light from LED lamps does not distort colors.

Some information to help you select the proper LED lamps:

Color - LED replacement lamps are available in various colors including red, cool white and warm white. Cool white lamps are very white or blueish in color and provide the maximum light. Warm white lamps have a slight yellow tint much like incandescent and halogen bulbs. They are about 5-7% less bright and more closely match traditional lighting.

Brightness - The brightness of LED lamps is measured in lumens. The greater the lumens, the brighter the lamp.

Reliability - The nature of boat electrical systems is to have voltage spikes and variable voltage depending on the charge of the batteries and the power generated by charging systems such as alternators, shore chargers and solar panels. This variation in voltage is often the key factor in LED lamps failing. Thus, the necessity for a built in voltage regulator called a DC/DC constant-current converter also called a Buck Power Converter. All of our LED lamps have one. See Idiots Guide to LED's by Jeff Field at http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-54258538930337/IdiotsGuide.pdf for more information.

Our customers interested in reducing their power consumption frequently ask us about LED lighting. We at Custom Marine Products have extensively researched LED lighting technology and decided to offer the highest quality replacement LED lamps from the best manufacturers we could find. Our marine grade LED replacement lamps are designed to replace both halogen and incandescent bulbs commonly found on boats and RV's. All of our replacement LED lamps are equipped with a built in voltage controller (Buck Power Converter) to compensate for the variable voltage that occurs in the marine environment being powered by storage batteries. This circuitry ensures maximum brightness and maximum operating life. Now our customers can equip their boats and RV's with a lighting system that will use only 10% of the power of halogen and incandescent bulbs and provide equivalent or brighter light.

At other places on this blog and on our web site we talk about how to determine the size of solar panel (how many watts) you will need to meet you power consumption requirements. Once you know your panel size requirement there are some things to consider in selecting a solar panel.

Panel Type - There are many articles written on the two types of solar panels; monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are made up of single crystal silicon wafers. Polycrystalline panels are made up of silicon that has a multiple crystalline structure. There are pros and cons to each type of panel. Monocrystalline panels have a higher output per square inch in direct sun but are very sensitive to shading and output will degrade faster on cloudy days. Polycrystalline panels are not as sensitive to being shaded and output will not degrade as much on cloudy days. At CMP we offer both a polycrystalline and a monocrystalline panel.Panel Crystal Quality - Because we have a confined space on our boats, we need to have the maximum output per square inch from our solar panels. The quality of the silicon crystals used to make the panel is a key factor in determining the panel output. Crystals are passed under a fixed light and graded as to their output (1-10). Grades are grouped into classes. Class A crystals are grades 8-10, Class B crystals are grades 4-7 and so on. Crystal quality follows a bell curve; there are many more Class B crystals than Class A. We at CMP specify only the best Class A crystals for use in our panels. Less expensive Class B and C panels are often used on land based solar farms where space is not an issue.Panel Shape - The largest market for solar panels is commercial applications where many many panels are mounted on a roof or in a field. These panels are usually rectangular in shape often twice as long as wide. This shape is often not ideal for marine application. Often a more square shape is preferable, especially for pole mounting.

Choosing the right panel for your needs will require study and/or discussion with panel experts.

Author

Thomas Trimmer has been cruising with his Ericson 38 sailboat on the Great Lakes for over 20 years. He has pioneered the use of solar energy for wilderness cruising. He is continually designing and building equipment to simplify and enhance the cruising experience.